Wind Energy Ireland argues that Government must ensure that various bodies and councils have the staff to cope with the likely extra demands on their services. Photograph: ReutersThe Government must give An Bord Pleanála and other agencies cash to hire enough staff to ensure that the State hits its green energy targets, according to an industry body’s budget wish list.
State climate plans aim to generate 80 per cent of electricity used here from renewable sources by the end of the decade. Industry lobby, Wind Energy Ireland, argues that Government must ensure that An Bord Pleanála, the Marine Area Regulatory Authority, National Parks and Wildlife Service and councils have the staff to cope with the likely extra demands on their services that will result.
The Planning and Development Bill’s proposed reforms of the system will “achieve little” without those resources, the organisation warns in its submission to Michael McGrath, the Minister for Finance, on October’s budget.